Chapter VI

Atlas

"Are you nervous?" Declan asked as we drove to the Royal Crest Pack. It was only about five hours away from my pack, so we always just drove.

Yes. "No, I am not. It is just another Mating Gala." I said, while turning the SUV onto another road.

He let out a long sigh and pulled his sunglasses from his face, looking at me. "Atlas, you know this is one of the last years you can go..." He hesitated. "honestly if she is not here this time, the age difference will be weird."

"Yes! I know!" I snapped at him and gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Declan's eyebrows furrowed at my reaction. "What is so wrong with my sister that you are so angry when we talk about the possibility of not finding your mate?" He scoffed.

Ah yes, this conversation.

Alpha males need a Luna for their packs to thrive. They could only go a certain amount of years without one before the pack falls apart. That is the purpose for every Alpha to have a backup mate of sorts. My parents chose my Beta's twin sister.

"Nothing." I said with an exhale. "I just rather have my mate."

Lies.

Just when this conversation was going to get deeper than I wanted it to, the palace came into view. Thank you, Moon Goddess.

"Looks like we made it just in time." Declan pointed out at the cars flooding the entrance way.

"Let's get this over with."

After being sorted and given my usual room, I got ready for the ball. The black on black Armani suit covered my skin and my hair was styled to perfection.

The nerves I felt in my stomach had much more to do than just trying to find my mate. I had even more things to avoid while I was here. I just needed to find her and all this would be over.

A knock at my door had me walking towards it. I sniffed the air to catch the person's scent.

Lux. Thank you, Goddess.

I opened it with a small smile, greeting the Beta. "Beta Lockley."

He chuckled at my formality, shaking his head. "Alpha Lycurgus, you know better." He tsked and held his hand out.

I laughed and shook his hand. When releasing it I ushered him in. "Come in, come in." I took a seat in one of the many chairs in my suite, lifting a hand offering him one. "How are you, man?"

The Royals and I go way back. We basically all grew up together because of my pack being the closest one to them. Both of our fathers had meetings every other week together, so I would join mine to come see Legacy and Lux.

"I am good. My brother and Fallon have me on my toes with the singer this year. She literally visited every café we have here." He laughed, sitting down in the seat across from me. "She is definitely good company, though. I do not mind it."

Lux was not the type to babysit, so this only brought me to one conclusion. "Is she your mate, by chance?"

"No, definitely not. She is just funny and is always wanting to learn something about my home. I just respect that. She hangs onto every word when she asks me a question about Royal Crest. She soaks everything up like a sponge."

"Ah." I said in understandment. It sounded like a crush more than anything, but I did not call it out. I then looked at my watch and saw that it was 6:22 p.m. "Looks like we need to head down."

"Mhm." He agreed, mirroring my actions with his own watch. "I need to make sure everything is going okay with Everly. I'll catch up with you after the Gala."

For some reason, Helix, my wolf, stirred at what he said. Please, not now. This is the worst time to go on a run.

By the time I calmed down Helix, it was 6:57. We fought back and forth for control, but ultimately I got him to submit by mentioning that we needed to go find our mate. It took some convincing, and he was still on edge, but he allowed me control.

I walked through the main doors of the ballroom and was greeted by other young alphas and betas.

I asked Helix while I pulled myself from boring conversations.

He let out a stiff growl.

I was now the one losing patience with him.

He barked.

Declan walked beside me and handed me a glass of whiskey. "Alpha," he greeted. "Any luck?"

I could feel Helix's anger seeping into my veins, so I just gave him the look. The look of Helix is angry, so do not test me. "I just got here."

"Right, well, I wanted to introduce you to someone." A girl in her twenties accepted his hand and smiled. He looked smitten, and so did she. He found his mate. "This is Elianna." He smiled.

"Alpha," she greeted with a submissive bow. "Please, just call me Ellie."

Helix was irritated at Declan for finding his mate before him. It made my eyes twitch and my blood pressure shot to the roof. "The Phoenix Moon pack will be very pleased to have you, Ellie." I gritted out as all the lights basically turned off.

"Looks like it is the last dance." Declan said sadly, patting my back.

I released a growl at him against my wishes. Helix was on edge. He knew to tread carefully.

They left almost immediately after that to join the newly mated wolves on the dance floor. My heavy feet carried me to an empty table and plopped down in a seat. The whiskey burnt my throat as I downed it in one gulp.

Then the music started. A voice graced my ears, pulling my eyes from my empty glass to a figure on stage. I felt enchanted by her and once the stage lit up with her voice flooding my ears full force; I was memorized.

Helix pushed through my body and took control. He started marching my form straight up the middle of the people that did not find their mates today.

I commanded him, but he did not stop walking.

His, well my, feet slid to a stop. He exclaimed, making a few people look at us in confusion.

I tried bribing him.

Without an answer and the song ending, Helix still continued to walk. When she exited the stage, he let out a low growl. It was going to be tougher to get to her now.

"Atlas, did you hear that girl sing?" Declan approached us with Elianna on his arm. "That was amazing."

Helix grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him away from Ellie. He commanded.

Declan's eyes widened at the realization I was not currently around. "But she could be anywhere."

He towered over my Beta.

Declan just nodded before telling Elianna they were to split up and find the performer.

Helix said to me as his eyes scanned the area.

That's all it took to be thrusted back into my body. I cleared my throat and adjusted my suit before trying to find the girl myself.

On my search, I came up empty. I let out an irritated sigh, stopping by the bathrooms. Maybe she was in there?

"Alpha," a voice I grew very familiar with approached behind me with the clicking of stilettos. "I am expecting your call in a few weeks. As I can see, you have no Luna on your arm."

Helix overcame my senses, turning around in a heap of emotions. "Do not hold your breath. I would never love you even if I had to take you as my Luna."

"I rejected my mate for you. I love you, Atlas. It has always been you. You loved me too, if you remember correctly. I do not know why you feel so different now." Her heart broke when she confessed, and I could see it in her eyes. I almost felt pity for her.

Helix was absolutely done with this woman, and thankfully he gave me the reins back so he did not make a scene. "I loved you as a little sister. That was all. You took it to a whole new level."

Declan's voice rang through.

She must've been in the middle of a rant, but I had no time for her. "Look, it is over." I told her to cut her off mid-sentence. "I have to go."

I did not even stick around for her to say anything else.

Helix urged me to run, so I did a jog to the area Declan told me they were at.

The jog turned into a walk as I went past the tables. I could see the girl still on the floor, unable to get up from the large amount of fabric she wore. Declan, too much of my annoyance, just stood there without offering her a way back to her feet. "For the love of the Moon Goddess, Declan." My voice caught both of their attention. "Are you just going to leave her on the fucking ground?" I nearly yelled as I approached her.

My eyes were on Declan for an explanation when I offered my hand to her. I felt the softness of her silk glove lace into my hand, pulling herself up.

When Declan just stood there like a fish out of the water, I turned to her to ask if she was okay.

Green.

Green pools of her eyes roped me in and spread their warmth to my body. I was levitating in her comfort and all the love her heart held. I forgot how to breathe looking into her eyes.

Her emerald eyes darkened within seconds, and what she said next nearly blew a hole through my chest.

The rawness in her voice was definitely her wolf taking over calling for Helix and I. He would not let her calls fall deaf ears.

I almost received whiplash from how hard he jerked into control.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾Please Vote and Comment☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙